Summertime, and the living is easy ... or not.  You get to decide. That's what my friend, Sue Calberg, recently rediscovered.   You probably know Sue as a ritual leader in the Celebration Circle and a long-time member of our Council of Stewards, but she's also a community activist and a passionate advocate for the health of Salado Creek - in addition to being a well-known television journalist and producer at KENS-TV, a recently widowed mother of two, and until last month, the landlord and den mother to half-dozen City Year volunteers.  In short, she does a lot for many people, and has long had a tendency to overlook her own needs.  Sound familiar?
 
Anyway, last week Sue came to the conclusion that it was time for her to slow down a bit, and began to reorganize her priorities.  A few days later, she wrote me a note, and gave me permission to share it with you:
 
"Something amazing happened.  After admitting to the world that I was absolutely exhausted from tending to my job as The Supreme Commander of the Universe, I laid down on the couch to rest for "just a minute."  Imagine my surprise when I woke up over four hours later.  I couldn't believe my phone had been silent for so long.  No interruptions. Wow.  Guess what?  Somehow the ringer had turned itself off!  I had missed SEVEN calls during that four hour span!  Guess what else?  The planet was still spinning.  Democracy had not faltered.  Civilization, as we know it, was just fine. 
 
Later, when I opened my front door in the pre-dawn darkness to go to work, I noticed my porch light was burned out.  That allowed me to notice fireflies flickering about.  Then I saw bats swooping about the yard.  Then the high cirrus clouds and bright blinking stars came into view.  All these are gifts that are usually lost to me when the porch light is on.
 
Who said 'less is more?' They were right. Pass it on.   Amen."
 
Ahhhh ... thanks for the reminder, Sue!
 
With blessings and hopes of seeing you Around the Circle,

PS:  Both my talk and meditation from last Sunday (07-27-08) were focused on this theme of balancing the need for action with the need for relaxation.  Thanks to our friend, Circle Band percussionist and tecnophile, Carl Rush, who has begun recording and editing our Sunday services, you can click here to listen to those podcasts now, or you can go to our website www.celebrationcircle.org at any time to hear them at your convenience.   Enjoy!
 
pps:  We're looking for one or two to help Carl and Eddy by taking turns running the video camera and sound recorder -- and perhaps help with editing.  Prior experience is helpful, but not necessary.